A Voice So Loud

by Chitose Fama

Ona is a living, breathing conflict. She wants fame, but fears she is too average for the spotlight. She has gifts but not the confidence to apply them. Posing as the Avatar could turn her around, or push her from the high and dry rocks and into the fire.

14. Out Of Control

Okay, so we'll keep chugging along here. No new illustrations to post, but maybe next time. Enjoy, and I'll see ya soon!

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Chapter 14

-Out of Control-

The Guardian's grave announcement brought silence to the gathered spirits, and even the misty forest became somehow more still, more stagnant. Haurran glanced at the other Avatar crouched by his side. A look of amused bewilderment built on Aang's face, stretching his rounded features oddly, and to Haurran it seemed he had not understood what The Guardian said. Maybe - judging by the slight smile on his lips - he believed this prophecy of doom was only a joke.

Mercifully, Menshu was the first to speak. "I believe there remains some confusion, and many questions arise. For instance, why is Haurran the only incarnation able to travel to Dai Ten's kingdom? Is there not a gate that stands perpetually between the human world and the palace? Many former incarnations have found it."

The Guardian nodded and waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes. Any Avatar may enter through the gate, but only and Avatar can open it. There is a difference, you see, between a spiritual being approaching a spiritual place, and a spirit approaching the mortal world."

"But why does it have to be me specifically who stops Elosi?" Haurran asked. "Wouldn't any Avatar do just as well?" Or better? he added silently.

"I'm afraid not. Remember that Elosi has approached earth in the past without causing harm. In fact, she does not wish to wreck the human world at all." The Guardian raised a billowing cloud hand to its face and tapped the side of its nose. "There is something specific that occurs upon her third visit that brings about her later retribution. Unfortunately it remains to be seen exactly what that event is."

Haurran frowned, wondering why he had not realized this before. Of course, it was obvious. The only reason a particular Avatar was required would be for an equally particular event. Looking shamefully at Menshu, he could tell that the great cat had reached this conclusion and needn't have asked The Guardian about it. Perhaps he did so to protect Haurran from embarrassment. Unhappily he lowered his head and decided not to say anything else for a while.

"Then the next question that faces us," said one of the four guardian spirits, "is how the Avatar will go about trapping Elosi."

"We said nothing about trapping her," retorted Li-Yu. "She is already trapped well enough."

"Trap, destroy, trick. The path is inconsequential. We only must be sure that she can never return to the human world."

The chaos spirit made a sour face at the bird. "The solution is obvious. Elosi is known to grant wishes to those who yield proper offerings, and all our little Avatar would need to do is wish her away."

Menshu growled low and deep in his large chest, turning barbed eyes on the comely woman. "Your beloved cousin is the most devious spirit of trade to exist in our world. No offerings would compare to your request, and Haurran would be forced to make up the difference with his own life. How dare you suggest he submit himself willingly to her duplicity."

"But he would rescue the future world from Elosi's wrath." Li-Yu shrugged. "His sacrifice would benefit the greater good, would it not?"

"What you speak of is not a sacrifice, but unnecessary suffering." Menshu's yellow eyes stared angrily at Li-Yu, but the other spirit did not look away. "Sacrifice is noble only when there is no other avenue. Otherwise it is foolishness."

Many other beings shouted out their opinions, but all were lost in the unified racket. Silenced, but not defeated, Li-Yu ducked her head and turned away with lips pressed together. Haurran risked a glance up then, and caught sight of The Guardian watching the crowd stoically, its misty features shaped into a look of separation Haurran watched its vaporous expression, and wondered if it were lost in memories, should timeless beings possess such mortal thoughts.

Briefly The Guardian's child-like eyes skipped to meet Haurran's, and it seemed that something sorrowful, contrite, slid unspoken between them. For a heartbeat the spirit's gaze lingered on him, and like a figure striding from the fog, its body appeared to reform into a much more human shape. Haurran could not focus his eyes on the details, but for a moment The Guardian's true form was revealed, and it was strangely familiar.

But then their gazes broke apart as more voices rose in shouts throughout the crowd. The Guardian regained its vague shape as the mist swirled around it, but not before the impression of its actual body stuck itself in Haurran's mind.

"If not a wish, then what could permanently send Elosi away?" shouted someone from the crowd.

Another voice instantly rose up. "Who says he would be killed in exchange? She could ask Haurran to live with her forever!"

"Fool! If the boy lives eternally he could never reincarnate; the existence of the Avatar would end completely!"

"Enough," said The Guardian sternly. "Enough! Before we can decide on a solution every detail of the situation needs to be discovered. If Haurran can resolve the problem that brings Elosi to earth a fourth time without a wish, he saves himself considerable trouble. But-" the Guardian made a lame effort to look at Haurran, and he was sharply reminded of the way Ona struggled to meet his eyes while she apologized for her sharp tongue. "But, I would advise him not to rule the wish out, should all other avenues be blocked."

The Guardian finished with a pointed, pleading look at Menshu, but the large cat ignored it.

"Are you saying that you don't really know what Elosi's problem is?" said Aang, speaking up after his long – stunned- pause. He clarified when the other spirits turned to look down at him, "I mean, you said there was a specific event, but you haven't said exactly what it is."

"Ah, of course," The Guardian appeared to shrug. "Unfortunately, Elosi's possession of Dai Ten's Kingdom is such that her actions are invisible through the spirit world. She wanted to keep the temples for herself, so naturally she discovered a way to keep all others out."

"But the gate-"

"The gate was created by Dai Ten following Elosi's treachery. He designed it so that only the Avatar may open it."

Haurran had thought about the gate, wondering at the apparent secret of its lock ever since Loe had first recounted the legend of Dia Ten to him in the small village. His stomach twisted, and he waited anxiously until there was a break in the arguing. "Guardian," he ventured, and was forced to repeat himself several times when his request was unheard. "Guardian, I-"

"Hold on," burst Aang noisily. He was loud enough to be heard again, even though there were still many raucous conversations going on around them. "Hold on, go back to the gate thing. Why can only the Avatar enter through? Does he have to use all four elements to open it?"

"No, no" The Guardian replied easily. Haurran relaxed, his worst fear resolved. The only elements he could control with any authority were earth and fire, and even those lacked a certain flare. If he had been required to bend water, or worst of all air, he was sure that it would be impossible to save Aang's future from peril.

"Element bending holds no sway in the Spirit World," The Guardian went on. "Dai Ten realized that, so the key to unlocking the gate lies in the other purely unique quality of the Avatar: the ability to commune with the Spirit World."

Haurran could feel the tension slacking throughout his body. If there was one aspect of his life as Avatar he felt accomplished in, it would be his knowledge of the Spirit World and nearly all of its inhabitants. Now he could be relieved, knowing that at least the gate to Dai Ten's kingdom would not be an obstacle.

"So, how does the gate open?" Haurran asked, now more self-assured.

"The process is ingeniously simple," The Guardain said. "There are specific spirits whose sole purpose lies in harmonizing nature in the human world with the events of the spirit world, and they do so in song."

"The Zheng, you mean?"

"Uh- yes, actually." The Guardian half smiled, surprised that Haurran knew the name of the melodious spirits.

But Haurran was far away in his mind, envisioning the large glassy lake where the Zheng resided. The grassy slope leading to the water had been a favorite place to visit when he was younger, because the unending, otherworldly song that echoed from the lake would block Doric's enraged shouting. Haurran was possessed with a sudden longing for the place, a constricting desire to once again sit by the water and listen. The Zheng were not one spirit, nor even a dozen, but hundreds to thousands in number. Every one of them had been overjoyed when Haurran visited them.

He could almost guess what The Guardian would say next. The song of the Zheng could be heard in the human world, by human ears, though only the Avatar could find meaning in the sound. For the Zheng's mortal form were frogs (not birds as many would assume). Tiny, emerald frogs that hopped out of the lake at night, gathered in enormous groups, and warbled together in the murky darkness. At times their combined voices could be thunderous, like a blanket of noise. Haurran laughed quietly to think of the small spirits, chirping with all their strength, pouring their joy into the song.

"The gate to Dai Ten's Kingdom," Haurran murmured, "is close to a lake, isn't it?"

Once again The Guardian smiled, though with less surprise than before. "Yes, so it is." A frown formed on its cloudy face. "Do you, perhaps, know the secret to unlocking the gate?"

"No, I just know about the Zheng."

The Guardian nodded, eyeing Haurran again with that same knowing, poignant look. Haurran meant to meet it's gaze in the hopes that he would discover the reason for The Guardian's sentiment, but then Aang nudged him and he was distracted.

"What are the Zheng?" he asked.

"They are a collection of small spirits," he answered softly. "They gather at a lake in the Spirit World, and sing unending hymns about the glories of nature. Their song is part of the reason why people can appreciate beauty in the human world."

Menshu nodded, pleased with the explanation. He continued to describe the Zheng to Aang, but Haurran only gave them half an ear. He was calculating what the spirit song would have to do with the gate, and somehow dread began to fill his veins again.

"As you are all aware," The Guardian went on, "A large number of the Zheng have chosen to inhabit the mortal world. Many of them will surround the lake where Dai Ten placed the gate once dusk falls, and they will begin their song. Though any mortal may hear them, Dai Ten enchanted the gate so that it will unlock when the true song is repeated before the threshold."

Haurran felt dismay hit him like a physical blow. Even bending the four elements would have been more plausible than this. To be asked to speak…his heart sank as if a weight had been strapped to it. Surely now all was lost.

"Haurran?" Aang turned to him. "What's the matter?"

For a moment Haurran feared that he had become mute once more, and all he could do was flap his tongue uselessly. "I…" he finally croaked, "I…I can't open the gate. If I have to talk, it can't…be done."

The Guardian glanced at him sympathetically. "That is another problem. The fact that you are mute in the physical world is an obstacle, but if you have someone to speak for you, the gate should still open."

"I don't understand," Haurran said. "I thought only the Avatar could open and pass through the gate."

"Not necessarily. The Avatar is the only person, aside from a spirit, who could correctly interoperate the Zheng's song and relate the lyrics. If Haurran communicates the words and the melody, anyone could sing the tune required to unlock the gate."

"Words are one thing," the bird, Men said. "Words can be written, signaled and mouthed. But a melody is another problem entirely."

For a moment the problem hung over the congregation, and it weighed on Haurran heaviest of all. He became twisted with hatred for himself, for his imperfection and how it was determined to wedge into every aspect of his life. Quickly he ripped himself from his shell of pity. He needed to focus on finding a way to open the gate.

"I believe that Haurran is in possession of a particular skill," Menshu offered. "He belonged to a family of traveling performers before he began his training as Avatar. Perhaps you learned to play an instrument?"

Haurran's heart skipped. Maybe there was a way! "Yes, yes, I've learned to play the Vinnsone! I could teach the song to someone else if I learned to perform it!"

The Guardian smiled gravely, not reflecting quite as much of Haurran's excitement. "Bear in mind that the song of the Zheng is incredibly complex. It may be difficult to communicate from your mind to your fingers to your instrument to the mind of your vocalist and then have them produce the exact tune."

Haurran thought of Ona, knowing that he could save time by simply recounting the song mentally to her. But he wasn't certain that she could handle its intricacy, seeing as she had never performed so much as a lullaby as far as he knew. He could always find a professionally trained vocalist, and surely anyone would jump at the chance to aid the Avatar.

But that would mean confronting another of his darker inhibitions. He would have to reveal to someone new that their Avatar was an inept bender, misplaced circus musician and a mute. His heart dropped so fast he thought it would fall right through the ground. Why couldn't even this be simple?

"In any case," The Guardian said to reunite the chattering spirit's attention, "the true reason all of you have been called here is so that you are aware of the peril our world is in. It should be the duty of every spirit gathered here to offer their blessings on Haurran as he prepares for this endeavor. As for you Li-Yu, it is my hope that you understand the risk Elosi poses to your existence. You would do well to refrain from pulling strings associated with this Avatar."

"Or any Avatar," Aang said, winking at Haurran.

"So, it is agreed then that Avatar Haurran will strive to find a way to dispose of Elosi?" Li-Yu grumbled, looking a great deal less attractive.

"If he agrees to take up this quest," The Guardian answered. "Of course what he is fighting to prevent occurs generations after his death. It would be understandable if his motivation is lacking."

"Of course I'm going to do it!" Haurran said, louder than he meant to. The moment Aang had glanced at him doubtfully his mind had filled with urgency. How could they doubt him? "I'll make sure she never returns, make the wish if I have to. I'll find a way."

He turned half around and met the eyes of the noble spirits standing over him. He recognized every face, shared memories with Menshu, the four kings, Men, Li-Yu, the Zheng, all of the many beings. They had told him their stories, they had given solace, given wisdom and encouragement. They listened when he worried that his parents had forgotten him, or when he feared that the world would never accept him, a broken, voiceless, circus mutt as their Avatar. It wasn't only the human world he was "fighting" for, but also for the only family he could recognize anymore.

"I'll find a way," Haurran repeated firmly. Then he let his voice soften. "Though, I'd be glad for any help you could give me."

"You have my pledge," said a large bear spirit. "My eye will forever watch your purse, to be sure that it never grows thin."

"And I," intoned another, "will send the hard weather miles from your back, so that it may drown your enemies but never touch you."

Still another raised their voice proudly, "and I shall make you invisible to those who would steal from you!"

"Your talent will flourish by my power!"

"You will find wise and helpful friends on every road, in every city!"

"Your food stores will multiply, and always taste pleasurable in your mouth!"

Haurran could barely speak long enough to give his thanks, for every time he opened his mouth another spirit would call out the blessing they planned to bestow on him. It seemed that some of the more competitive beings were shouting out their wondrous offers like excited bidders at an auction. Back and forth they went, until the crowd was little more than a bustling, bubbling roar of sound. Haurran knew his situation was being made into a game, but he could hardly complain when he was being promised castles and royal escorts.

It took a very long time to quiet everyone down again, and by then the spirits had begun to chatter about other topics. The Guardian made sure that various other loose ends were discussed, but the meeting continued on and on as several completely unrelated complaints were brought up. Haurran could not listen to idle words, not when excitement rushed through his body like a churning river. He wanted to return to his human form that instant, to run and tell Ona and Den all that had he had learned. He could not imagine them expressing anything less than eager impatience when they learned where their adventure was headed.

Eventually the spirits began to depart, and Aang stood with Haurran to give everyone a polite farewell.

"I had no idea there were so many different spirits," Aang murmured. The line dissolved slowly, and sometime later only a few stragglers remained in the clearing.

"Yes, there are spirits to watch over everything," said Haurran. "Of course, there are many who do not involve themselves with the human world at all. They're among the oldest, and the most powerful. I've never heard of anyone meeting with them though."

Aang seemed only marginally interested. "Do you think those guys are going to be leaving soon? I've got to get back to my body or else I'll miss dinner."

Haurran scanned the remaining spirits, counting only five standing in the clearing. Three spirits were huddled in a small group, talking in low voices. Menshu had stalked back to his seat in the tree and was apparently busily cleaning his fur. The last was Li-Yu, standing off by herself, her fan fluttering continuously and her eyes occasionally sending Haurran suggestive glances.

Haurran sighed. "No. She's not leaving until I talk to her, and neither is Menshu. If you want to go home, Aang, I'm sure no one will mind." He smiled gratefully. "Thanks for hanging around to help though."

"No problem, you're the one doing a huge favor for me."

"Ah, I suppose so."

"Don't hurt yourself trying to stop Elosi, alright?" Aang said sincerely. "And don't make that wish unless you absolutely have to."

"Of course," Haurran assured him. "It's not like the fate of the world hangs on my success."

"Trust me, I've been there before. The only thing you can really do is keep moving forward." He shrugged. "Most of the time everything is out of your control."

Haurran shut his eyes, thinking how much he didn't like being out of control. "How do you know when you're ready?"

"Who said you need to be ready?" Aang grinned.

Haurran stared at him, not sure if those words were meant as a joke.

Aang laughed, turned and waved before he walked back into the forest. Haurran hesitated, watching the trees the other Avatar had disappeared into, wondering absently at how the branches scarcely twitched when he walked through them. At last he realized that he could not stall any longer, and turned to decide which spirit he should talk to first. In the end he resolved to go to Menshu.

The large cat watched Haurran quite unabashedly as he approached, something like a smile on his golden face.

"Is something wrong?" Menshu asked.

"No, except that you are obviously waiting for me to come speak with you."

The cat purred noisily. "How observant. Yes there was something I thought needed bringing up."

"What would that be?"

For a moment Menshu sat quietly, purposefully refusing to speak as if he expected Haurran to be suddenly enlightened and answer himself. Then the spirit began to purr louder, and inclined his head slightly. "Have you decided what to do about the effects of Dai Ten's Kingdom on the people of your world?"

Haurran frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I'm going to send Elosi away, isn't that enough?"

"It may be, depending on how long it takes you to complete your task."

Instead of speaking his question directly, Haurran settled for frowning at Menshu pointedly.

"Of course you are aware that everyone in your world will be affected, especially in the area of bending." Menshu spread one enormous paw, his long claws curling out of his fur. "People will be searching for an explanation from their Avatar, many will be fearful, and many will try to usurp your position because of their increased spiritual abilities. It is your responsibility to explain to some extent, that the world is out of balance and that bending elements may prove disastrous."

"Do you think people would really listen to me?"

"That is not as important. You have yet to see exactly how much trouble Elosi causes. You will save yourself considerable blame if you send a warning beforehand." He lifted his yellow eyes in an oddly bored expression. "If you say nothing at all, people of all four nations will certainly begin to doubt you."

Haurran inwardly retaliated against this suggestion. The last thing he wanted to do was reveal himself as Avatar in front of the world, even to give people information about their own safety. Even if he found a way to spread the word, he couldn't see himself following through if no one would believe him.

Menshu's perceptive gaze could almost read Haurran's thoughts. "The decision is yours. You do have many more problems to confront, but I would keep the suggestion in mind."

"What am I supposed to do?' Haurran demanded. "Just pass out a flyer telling people not to do bending anymore?"

"My knowledge of your world is limited in the area of politics. Surely you will recognize the perfect opportunity when it comes to you."

Disappointed and mildly put off by the conversation, Haurran nodded and said nothing more. He was angry to find one more seemingly impossible task thrust on him, along with the expectation that he would fulfill it. Sometimes he was sure that he would trade anything not to be the Avatar.

Harruan tried not to sound annoyed as he said goodbye to Menshu. The cat could be a wise and reassuring creature, but at times his relaxed mentality was wearisome. Haurran hated to think that the cat did not truly care about anything besides cleaning his coat, but the spirit's sleepy tone did nothing to encourage him.

"Goodbye Menshu," Haurran said. "It seems that I need to speak with Li-Yu now. I promise to visit more often in the future."

"See that you do," yawned Menshu, and then he closed his eyes and appeared to sleep.

Fighting back a grim sigh, Haurran next walked toward the opposite side of the clearing where the woman stood. With irritation he saw Li-Yu notice him, and then turn away to pretend that she was studying a bamboo stalk. When he stopped in front of her she feigned surprise and giggled, a sound like a cracked bell jingling.

"Avatar Haurran, what an honor," Li-Yu chimed.

"Was there something you needed to talk to me about?"

His bluntness appeared to first startle, and then amuse her. Her toothy smile glittered at him and again she laughed.

"Dear boy, can you fault me for wanting time with you? It's been so long since your last visit." She sighed. "Ah, you and I were so close when you were younger. Now you are too old and too wise for me."

Haurran remembered with slight satisfaction how he had crept through the mist with Li-Yu as a young boy, falling gleefully in line with all of her devious schemes. Although back then her form had been a much younger girl, the flash of cunning in her eyes was just as sharp then as ever.

"Everyone tells me that I've been away for a while," Haurran said. "But I thought you spirits didn't have any sense of time."

"Hm, when you miss someone dear, even a timeless reality will drag on and on." Li-Yu pursed her ruby lips. "But, as far as I can see you've only changed in body. Your personality is still intact."

"That's good to know," he murmured. Quietly he was wondering what on earth Li-Yu actually wanted from him. Knowing her, there would be no way to tell until long after she had already gotten what she wanted. For now he decided to just play along.

"You know," Li-Yu went on, "you have always been my favorite Avatar."

"But there are so many besides me, and plenty who are a lot more sneaky," he said and smiled politely. "Why aren't any of them your favorite?"

There, a modestly probing question, but not too obvious. Li-Yu probably saw right through him, but he still hoped her next answer would shed some light on her true goal.

"Dear, dear, you are so docile," she said. "But you realize that about yourself, right? What is truly interesting is your, as they say, darker side. There is quite a mighty temper inside you."

"Yes, it's something I've been trying to calm actually." He blinked and realized that he was staring at his shoes, and quickly raised his head. "It really isn't healthy for anyone to hold grudges like I do."

Li-Yu shrugged. "I wouldn't know. You don't anger as easily as you used to, but you can be an absolute demon when you feel abused. Honestly I wonder how you've managed to keep our head around that whiny girl you're traveling with."

Haurran easily kept his face placid, but inside he felt a strong jolt of surprise. None of the other spirits had so much as mentioned Ona, and he had thought that no one knew who she was. Could this be what Li-Yu was really interested in? He couldn't think of any reason why she would care about Ona, but then he concluded that he essentially knew very little about his friend.

"Ona isn't as bad as she used to be," he said defensively. "I think when we started out she was more afraid than she wanted me to know."

"Well, she could have chosen a better way to cover it up, couldn't she? That kind of personality is no good for you."

He swallowed, forcing himself to be impartial. He wasn't ready to jump to Ona's defense, because there was a bit of truth in what Li-Yu said. He was not happy with the spirit either, but it would do no good to lash out or explode with emotion. Somehow Haurran could tell that Li-Yu was waiting for him to do just that.

She was testing him, but he could not say for certain what for.

"Women," Haurran sighed, "they're so difficult for me to understand. I've come to believe that complication is their natural state of mind."

It wasn't what Li-Yu wanted to hear, he could see the way she cut her eyes at him, and her lips were tight when she smiled. He could not remember ever seeing such a poisonous look on her face before, but it instantly disappeared when she spoke.

"You'll have to learn, if you're going to visit Elosi. My cousin is even more demanding than I am. You'll have to think carefully about what you bring her as offerings."

"I meant to ask you about that. Are the offerings specific items?"

"No, no, perhaps gifts is a better word." Li-Yu took on a more practical look. For now, their game was paused. "She has preferences, and those can be easily researched even in the human world. Dai Ten himself paid her with gold when he called her from the spirit world."

Haurran nodded absently. "Gold? As in riches, you mean? Is Elosi fond of treasure?"

"She's a woman, Haurran. You cannot visit her and ask for her time without bringing her compensation, or symbols of your goodwill." She grinned. "You already know, I'm sure, what sorts of things women like to have as gifts. The more she approves of your offerings, the less severe her demands for your wish will be."

"What do you recommend," he said, and quickly added, "as her cousin?"

"Hm, perhaps I'll leave you to decide. I'll be interested to see what you come up with."

And just like that, he knew the game was over. There was no chance that he had won, but the damage could only be measured much later. Li-Yu continued to smile at him, and offered to escort him through the forest. He would need to find a gate in order to return to his body, now that he was this deep in the spirit world. Haurran really had no choice but to accept; he didn't know this forest and was uninterested in wandering around alone until he found a way out.

Li-Yu took his arm and they started to walk, talking about the past and other idle topics. It seemed the hunt for information had really ended; though Haurran stayed alert for any more analytical questions.

The walk seemed to take far longer than it should have, but Haurran expected nothing less of Li-Yu. He was relieved when he laid eyes on the simple wooden gate that signaled passage back to the human world, but at the same time he was surprised that he hadn't been led on a much more outrageous hike.

"I suppose I'll see you again soon," Haurran said, edging toward the gate.

Li-Yu held on his arm a few moments longer. "Of course. Feel free to call on me if you are ever in need of…assistance."

She dropped her grip, and he took that to mean that the goodbyes had been spent and he was free to go. He turned to the gate and took three steps toward it when she spoke again. The impossible scope of mischief saturating her words stopped him like hitting a wall.

"Be sure to give Elosi my best," Li-Yu said. Haurran twisted around to look at her, to derive some understanding from her expression, but she had already disappeared. Only the sinking feeling her tone left in his stomach remained to plague him.

Sighing to clear his head, Haurran faced the gate once more. Then he gasped and felt his body turn to ice when he found himself staring directly into a pair of haunted, misty eyes.

The Guardian floated, cloudlike and ghostly, less than a hand-length away from his face. It wore an expression of deep solemnity, and its voice was tinged with urgency when it spoke.

"Do not enter this gate," it said.

Haurran composed himself and choked out one word. "What?"

"Li-Yu is trying to trick you. You were foolish to follow her."

"What do you mean? Where does this gate lead?"

The Guardian nervously glanced beyond Haurran's shoulder, the mist surrounding its body billowing thicker than ever. "Follow me, you need to return to your body quickly."

With that The Guardian swooped forward, leaving Haurran standing behind, speechless and immovable. Confused, he looked back at the mysterious gate, wondering if he should just ignore The Guardian's impolite warning and pass through. The cloudlike spirit was already out of sight, probably sailing over swamps far away by now.

"You must come now," The Guardain suddenly demanded with iron authority. Haurran jumped when he saw the powdery face burst from nowhere, seemingly exploding from out of the air. What little of its body that could be made out suggested heights of severity that Haurran rarely saw.

When the spirit said nothing else, Haurran felt anger sparked in his mind. He at least deserved an explanation.

"Why should I follow you?" he demanded. "Li-Yu tricked me, or so you say, but at least I've known her for most of my life. If anything, I should trust you less."

"You do know me," hissed The Guardain. "We have to hurry."

"But I've never met you before."

"Yes, you have, just…not while I'm like this," it muttered and waved impatiently at its body.

"What does that mean? Who are you?"

"Follow me, and I'll explain. Time is running out."

Haurran hung back, still considering the gate. Eventually he nodded even though the stall in his questioning irritated him farther. He couldn't interrogate The Guardian if it vanished deep into the Spirit World, and he wanted to return to his body just as badly even without an urgent reason.

Once again The Guardain whirled and soared away, moving as if a powerful wind pushed it from behind. Haurran was forced to run just to keep up, but even after several minutes of constant jogging he was not severely winded. The Spirit World lent some advantages to humans, it seemed.

"Why couldn't I go through that gate?" Haurran asked when he was close enough to The Guardian.

"It leads deeper into the Spirit World, to a place you've never been before. If you'd entered it, you would likely never find your way back to your body."

"Then why would Li-Yu take me there?"

"I'm sure you can figure that out for yourself." The Guardian's tone was frayed, antagonized. "You were the one who said you've known her all your life."

"Alright, then tell me what's going on. Am I in some danger back in the human world?"

"Of course, you idiot," snapped the spirit. "I should have ended that meeting much sooner. I knew Korr was coming but I thought…well I didn't know he would try to burn the temple down while you were still inside. He's supposed to deliver you alive, and I don't see how he'll do that if you've suffocated and charred into ash."

They had left the bamboo forest far behind, and entered a rocky field that lacked any landmarks. Haurran struggled over the large rocks that caught his feet, and found it nearly impossible to listen to The Guardian and dodge boulders at the same time. Aside from that, the spirit's long speech wasn't making sense to him. Haurran didn't know anyone named Korr. Worst of all he realized that The Guardian said the shrine had gone up in flames with his body still inside.

"Where are we going?" he panted, slowly losing his breath.

"To a safe gate. You'll have to hurry and find your body once we pass through."

"Has it been moved?"

"Ona and Den tried to move you away from the shrine, but they're doing a terrible job of it." The Guardian somehow began to move faster, and it spoke so rapidly that Haurran could barely understand what he heard. "Elosi has cast her mist around the shrine also, probably to try and listen in on our meeting, but she won't have been able to hear through the forest. In any case, until you are moved out of the fire and the mist, it may be a very difficult to reenter your human form. It will actually be very painful, I think, when you reawaken to find your lungs filled with acid smoke."

"Oh," was all Haurran could say. He looked up nervously and saw another gate, identical to the one Li-Yu had led him to, perched on top of a far hill. His lungs burned a little now and the air he breathed felt like pin points in his chest, but he forced his feet to continue up the hill.

"Be careful when you reawaken," The Guardain said, beckoning him to the crest. "Put it off as long as you can, no matter how much you see the other two struggling. If you faint you'll be no better to them then you are now."

"But if they're in trouble-"

"Wait," commanded The Guardian. "Ona can pull you out of this if your timing is right. She may even need a bit of a wakeup call to get her moving. One thing you cannot do is let her become discouraged. You need to stay together until you've finished with Elosi."

"Alright…" Hauran said half-heartedly. He was nervous to see what lay beyond the gate, and it alarmed him to think that reentering his body would be painful. In the past Doric had shaken or smacked him if he lingered in the Spirit World too long, but when he did come back the pain was always negligible. He hated to admit any cowardice, but there was a strong feeling in his gut to turn and run away from the gate.

In the end he was able to summon enough courage to step forward, but he closed his eyes as a flash of white light wrapped around him. It faded instantly, replaced by a relentless orange blaze. His eyes snapped open at the putrid reek of smoke and an uncomfortable sensation of heat. What he saw was more startling that he had imagined.

He was not inside his body, but standing where it should have been in the middle of the shrine. There was no sign of Ona or Den, but there was another person standing so close that Haurran could have reached out and touched him. Instead he backed away, horrified.

The man was dressed in white robes, and his dark face was shadowed with a menacing glare. He was the leader of the assassins. He had somehow caught up them, and judging by the torch I his gloved fist and the raging fire in the forest, he was ready to burn down the city to be sure his targets would not escape again.